Which figure of speech is demonstrated by the sentence 'Steyne rose up, grinding his teeth, pale and with fury in his eyes'?

• A. Zeugma
• B. Metaphor
• C. Apposition
• D. Detached Construction

Answer: (D)

This sentence relies on a detached construction: a non-finite participial phrase that adds vivid description to the main clause without forming a separate, fully independent clause. Here, the extra description follows the main action and shares the same subject, Steyne, but it doesn’t introduce a new verb with its own subject. “Grinding his teeth” is a present participle phrase that shows simultaneous action, while “pale and with fury in his eyes” describes his state at that moment. Together, they function as an accompanying detail that heightens the immediacy and intensity of the moment.

This isn’t a metaphor, since there’s no direct comparison being made; it’s not apposition, which would rename or re-identify the subject; and it’s not zeugma, which would link disparate ideas with a single governing word. The effect is to extend the image of Steyne as he rises, using a compact, descriptive add-on rather than a separate clause.